Life Issues

AI is all around us. But what is the ethical response to its development, and what is the faith response? Can the Holy Spirit speak through Chat GPT? It’s the Life Issues podcast with Presenter Paul Hammond and Revd Dr Chris Goswami, Founder of AI Christian Partnership.

Our societal support systems, intended to protect the most vulnerable, are creaking at the seams. So, what is the solution? Could the clue be in the name: CARE? Tarn Bright, Co-CEO at Home for Good and Safe Families, tells Helen why LOVE must be at the centre of a redesign of the children’s care system in this week’s Life Issues.

There seems to be a growing passion for living in the moment, for seizing the day, Carpe` diem as it were. But it seems to be less about “redeeming the time” and more of an excuse to chase a consumerist or self-focused lifestyle… So, given that you only live once – how can we make that life the best and most productive it can be? It’s the LI podcast – available now on UCB player and this week entitled. YOLO – so could life be better?

Cathy and Mark Madavan are authors of Up and Alive: Living The Life We Are Made For

[Originally broadcast the week of 12th September 2022]

Kindness has connotations of sweetness and softness, but does this make us prone to overlook the dynamic power of kindness and the legacy it leaves? Paul takes up the discussion with Debbie Duncan and Cathy Le Feuvre in this week’s Life Issues.

Do you have unfulfilled dreams? Maybe life hasn't turned out as you'd hoped? From becoming a parent, to owning a home, getting married or pursuing a certain career... 
How do we deal with these unfulfilled desires?
Can we rewrite the narrative and find a new vision for our lives? 
And is it ok to grieve something you've never had? Helen Lea is joined by midlife mindset coach Helen Louise Knight who's passionate about helping people who feel invisible - embrace and make the most of the life they have.

Have you ever had a go at keeping a journal? What if it could be more than a record of what we’ve been up to and instead was used by God as a missional tool? On this week’s Life Issues, Vicky Gibbens speaks to Bishop Matthew Porter and Dr Christopher Williams on the role reflection can plays in our everyday lives.

Words are one of the most powerful tools we have but often they can escape us. Particularly when it comes to prayer. But what if we don't need the "right" words or even our words? In this week's Life Issues Helen Lea is exploring the ancient practice of liturgy with authors of Liturgies for Hope & Liturgies for Wholeness Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore.

As men, what do we do with mood swings, despair, anger? Particularly when we feel guilt at apparently not being able to cope? On this week’s Life Issues Paul Hammond is joined by Mercy UK’s Bryn Abbott and Paul Marshall to discuss why men find it so hard to talk about the impact of poor mental health and what God has to say about it.

There’s an old hymn that says – “Tis mercy all, immense and free; For, O my God, it found out me.” But what is mercy? Is it just a case of letting someone off with it? Where’s the justice in that? These days we’re more likely to see argument, cancelling or even aggression than mercy. So, where does it fit?  Paul is joined by Natalie Williams, Author of Tis Mercy All in this week’s Life Issues:  “Blessed are the merciful, even these days” to find out.

Has atheism lost its popularity? Is belief in God gaining interest and respect once again? Helen’s guest for this week's life issues is Justin Brierly, host of The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God podcast.

They discuss how the conversation around faith, reason and God has changed and why many sceptics are now pointing people back to Christianity.